Jason Koger, aged 33, lost both arms below the elbow following a 2008 four-wheeler accident involving a downed electrical wire. After the near-fatal accident  Jason has a set of advanced bionic hands from Touch Bionics. Jason stars as a body double for a villian who is a bi-lateral amputee  in the episode aired in April.

Jason is the first double amputee in the world to receive one of the most innovative products on the market: bionic hands that are, in part, controlled by an iPhone app. The i-Limb Ultra revolution is the latest innovation from prosthetic developers Touch Bionics. The prosthetic features five individually powered fingers and fully rotatable thumb.

Watch Jason demonstrating the new i-limb ultra in this video.

Clinical Director David Hills explains:

“We have been working with Touch Bionics since 2007 and became a certified supplier of their innovative bionic products in 2008, such as i-limb digits and i-limb hand. The new i-Limb Ultra ‘revolution’ hand is their most advanced product to date and will be hugely beneficial to many of our clients. Introducing powered rotation of the thumb and allowing the user to select and alter grip patterns of their prosthetic hand through an iPod are great additions to what was already one of the most advanced electronic hands available.”

Dorset Orthopaedic hope to introduce this exciting, groundbreaking technology in the near future.

Enquire here about any of our products.

Margaret was left paralysed from the waist down and unable to walk by a road accident in Malawi in 1959. She returned to Britain and was treated at at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where she stayed for almost a year, where spinal injury unit founder and Paralympics founder Sir. Ludwig Guttmann, pioneered the use of sport in therapy. There, she took up Archery and joined an Archery club.

The following June Margaret was invited to The National Stoke Mandeville Games, a sports competition for wheelchair athletes.

“I must have done quite well, because to my amazement a short time later I was invited to be a member of this team going to Rome!”

In Margaret’s first games the accommodation was on stilts, and the Paralympians had to be carried in and out by soldiers. Undignified it might have been, but Margaret didn’t seem to mind! It was typical of the times. She won the first British Paralympics Gold Medal in Archery 1960 and competed in a further 4 Paralympic Games up to 1980.

BBC Correspondent, Peter White, meets Margaret, now aged 85 in the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘No Triumph No Tragedy’ (aired in April) talking in detail about the progress of the Paralympics, from just 70 Paralympians competing in Rome in 1960 to more than 4,000 in the London 2012 games.

Margaret says

“Who would have thought that my gold medal that I kept in a plastic bag in a drawer was going to bring me such fame!”

Listen to Margaret’s captivating story here.

Previously Colin has successfully ran 630 miles across England’s South West Coastal path, completed a 20-mile off road run – ‘The Grizzly’ for the sixth time in March this year and completed the Salcombe Coastal Marathon this month!

Dorset Orthopaedic made Colin’s Prosthetic Socket with ultra lightweight carbon fibre and flexible materials to achieve comfort and lightness.  This, with the combination of years of experience and the ability to hand form each socket on an individual basis, really makes a difference to amputees.

Colin’s Prosthetist Matthew Hughes explains:

“A socket is vital. You can have the best prostheses in the world, but if the socket is not comfortable, nothing is going to be right in everyday activity, let alone competing in intensive sport that Colin whole-heartedly enjoys.”

After completing The Grizzly, Colin commented:

“After an extreme run I was expecting some sores on my stump, but I didn’t suffer from any sores or abrasions from my socket from Dorset Orthopaedic. I was so impressed.”

Colin has also continued to train and successfully ran thirty miles in the Salcombe Coastal Marathon earlier this month!!!

Stay tuned for Colin’s next endeavour…

Read other client stories here.

Moose has previously worked with British and Foreign military where he developed expertise in treating complex trauma injuries and limb-loss, from the early stages immediately after injury, through to the individual’s very active and adventurous stage of rehabilitation.

Moose continues his links with the military as a reservist soldier with the Honourable Artillery Company, which keeps him busy with regular field training, as well as ceremonial duties. He is passionate about competing in this challenge to raise money for the charity Walking With The Wounded (WWTW).

Walking With the Wounded (WWTW) aim to fund the re-training and re-education of servicemen and women, both veterans and those leaving The Armed Forces. Our armed forces risk their lives in extreme circumstances, and they do so with great professionalism and courage. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives in the course of duty or suffer horrific injuries. When they return home they face a very different future to the one they had planned and with challenges they never imagined.

WWTW finance new qualifications, education and training programmes for those who are injured, to help with career transition. This enables the blind, the burn victims, the mentally injured, the amputees and all the other wounded personnel to rebuild their lives and to return to the work place.

Moose explains:

“As reservists for the Honourable Artillery Company my team all feel passionately that any support we can offer to charities is the least we can do. I personally have worked with the MoD at DMRC Headley Court as a prosthetist, so I’ve seen first hand and at length the support the injured lads receive, and the benefits that are felt, from charities such as WWTW.”

Dorset Orthopaedic has donated £500 to sponsor Moose’s team and support the charity.

Moose comments:

“It is remarkably generous. I am delighted that Dorset Orthopaedic are, quite rightly, able to see the benefits WWTW offer to wounded service personnel. As a company, and as prosthetists, we clearly have an insight in to the lives of amputees, the challenges it can present and what can be achieved. It’s great that Dorset Orthopaedic have chosen to encourage my involvement with this event and to show support for injured service personnel in this way.”

With the vast challenge in front of him, Moose is determined to complete this “daunting feat” to climb 33km with an ascent of 2327m as fast as possible.

“I’m trying to get out walking on inclines as much as I can and trying to pick my running distances back up as well. I’ve become generally pretty fit over the last couple of years as a reservist, but I think this will certainly push me to my limit somewhat!”

Sponsor Moose and his team in this epic challenge and support our wounded here.

Read more about Moose’s previous work at Headley Court in this case study.

For more information about this event contact Moose on MooseB@dorset-ortho.com.

GOOD LUCK MOOSE!!!

The draw was held in April at The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers conference on the 18th-19th April in South Wales.

Dan Thompson is a Partner at Warner Goodman, one of the leading law firms in the Solent area that have been delivering legal services for over 160 years. We work closely with personal injury lawyers or case managers to help many individuals through the provision of expert witness reports to support claims for compensation.

Dan was delighted to have won the Kindle and visit our Ringwood Clinic.

“Warner Goodman are very interested in Dorset Orthopaedic’s legal services and hope to work closely with them again in the future”.

Legal Services Co-ordinator Jo Dowling and Prosthetist Matt Hughes presented Dan with the Kindle and gave him a guided tour of our workshops and facilities.

For more information on our legal services please contact Jo Dowling on 01425 481 743 or email JoD@dorset-ortho.com or enquire here.

On Thursday 18^th and Friday 19^th April our Consultant Prosthetist, Paul Neve, and Legal Services Supervisor Jo Dowling, exhibited at the APIL annual conference and AGM at The Celtic Manor resort, Newport, South Wales.

APIL are The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, with around 4,500 specialist injury lawyers. The event was attended by 200 + delegates (Personal Injury Lawyers and Barristers) and it was a good opportunity to meet Solicitors and Barristers that Dorset Orthopaedic have been working closely with and to discuss new cases.

We received a lot of positive feedback regarding settlement figures and feedback they had received from our clients, especially in cases where they had also been supplied with Prostheses or Orthoses through one of our clinics.

To find out more about our Legal support here.

Or contact Jo Dowling directly on +44 (0)1425 481 743 or email JoD@dorset-ortho.com.

Dorset Orthopaedic are experts in limb loss and injury issues, we have helped many individuals through the provision of expert witness reports to support claims for compensation.

We work closely with personal injury Lawyers and case managers to deliver the highest level of legal support.

April’s Legal Open Day welcomed defendant Lawyers and representatives from many large insurance companies who wanted an insight into Dorset Orthopaedic’s legal services. Clinician Matthew Hughes led the day that explored workshops, presentations and practical sessions.

We hope to host our next Legal Open Day in June. Register your interest with Jo Dowling on 01425 481 743 or email JoD@dorset-ortho.com.

Find out more about our Legal Support here.

This is the first Bionic Lower Leg System to replace muscle loss in lower-extremity amputees. The prosthetic helps patients to move without a gait and various speeds with less effort.

The key features of the new BiOM Personal Bionics are:

• Reduces aches associated with an altered gait
• Perform activities of daily living with a normal amount of metabolic energy exertion
• Walk at a natural speed
• Stand and move with a greater sense of stability and confidence
• Change walking speeds more easily
• Reduce intact leg stress after heel strike
• Navigate changing surfaces, terrains, hills and stairs with greater ease and stability

Both Paul and Moose commented on the incredible power generated by this new electronic foot that effectively propels the user forward when walking or climbing a hill. This is a huge breakthrough in prosthetic technology that will benefit many lower limb amputees.

For more information about this new product enquire here.

In July 2006, Detective Malcolm, aged 62, was on ‘Covert Surveillance’ duty, following suspected drug dealers undercover on his motorbike when a car collided with his motorbike, severely dislocating his knee and fracturing his arm.

Following fifty-six operations, Malcolm’s left leg was eventually amputated above his knee in July 2011. After thirty years of service, Malcolm unfortunately had to take early retirement from the Police.

Malcolm first attended Dorset Orthopaedic in October 2011 where Clinical Director David Hills acted as his Expert Witness in his legal case. Malcolm says:

“I quickly realised Dorset Orthopaedic was leading the field in prosthetic rehabilitation; so I wanted to be with the top company!”

With the support of a legal case, Malcolm was prescribed the ground-breaking Genium™ Knee by Otto Bock.  This one-of-a-kind prosthetic knee utilises sophisticated software to turn multiple environmental inputs (a complex sensor system, including a gyroscope and an accelerometer) into the most natural, intuitive motion available.

The prosthesis facilitates fast, complex movements that allow Malcolm to easily step over obstacles, play sport and continue with everyday activities.

Malcolm tells us:

“David introduced me to the Genium Microprocessor limb which is life-changing and has never let me down. Now I don’t have to concentrate on everyday activities that people take for granted, I can just get on with my life.”

Malcolm jokes:

“With other limbs I was like an Only Fools and Horses sketch! I would fall over, off my prosthetic limb, and my wife would be looking for me like Trigger and Del Boy! With the Genium I am secure and can carry heavy weights, play golf and enjoy everyday activities like walking around the supermarket.”

Since becoming an amputee, Malcolm is determined to give something back. In October 2012 Malcolm walked 100Km over six days in 38-degree heat through the Jordan National Park, in Petra, in aid of Parkinson’s disease. His next venture is to complete the 350-mile ‘Big Battlefield Bike Ride (BBBR)’ from Paris to London on the 27^th May to support Help for Heroes.

The BBBR is an emotional and physical challenge. Cyclists ride for six days, covering 60 – 90miles a day, journeying through significant WW1 and WW2 battlefields. Over one hundred wounded servicemen, women and veterans will start at the Eiffel Tower and cross the finish line at the Horse Guards Parade in London, after laying a wreath at the Cenotaph.

To complete this challenge Malcolm is in need of a durable, comfortable socket to fit his prosthetic, so he sought Dorset Orthopaedic’s expert advice once again. David and Malcolm have worked together to design a Comfort Fit® Socket tailor-made for Malcolm’s bike.

“It’s great that Dorset Orthopaedic can create bespoke products. This socket will give me more comfort and I will be able to cycle for eight hours, without many sores.”

David explains how the Comfort Fit® Socket was especially designed for Malcolm:

“Malcolm’s socket is made from light-weight Carbon Fibre. I designed this socket around the shape of Malcolm’s saddle on his bike so that it is comfortable enough for him to cycle over very long distances.”

Read Malcolm’s article on The Daily Mail Online.

To help support Malcolm and show your appreciation for our wounded, please visit Malcolm’s JustGiving page.

Watch Malcolm trailing his socket below.

For more information about our prosthetic services please enquire here.

Read similar client stories here.

In 2002, Neil was involved in a collision on his right knee whilst playing rugby that resulted in various ligament, tendon and nerve damage. Since the accident Neil has endured nine operations on his leg and one on his back. His injuries have resulted in ‘Drop Foot’ or ‘Foot Drop’ whereby the muscles that actively dorsiflex the ankle and foot have weakened, causing difficulty in lifting his foot up.

Neil received his newest SAFO (Silicone Ankle Foot Orthosis)from the Dorset Orthopaedic team in March 2013. The award-winning Orthosis supports the front of Neil’s leg down to the top of his foot. This helps Neil lift his foot whilst his leg swings during walking. Without the SAFO, Neil feels he could not keep up with his active lifestyle and career.

Neil now teaches Physical Education at the Hampshire Collegiate School near Southampton, where he originally studied. He is also Head of Boys Sports, Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) and has most recently been promoted to Head of Year, to commence in September 2013.

“The SAFO is vital for me to be able to do my job effectively. As a qualified sports teacher I need to be able to coach pupils, referee sports matches and stay active, the SAFO lets me do this.”

Before his accident Neil was a Semi-Professional Rugby player. Being able to partake in sports and be involved physically with his children Jack, aged 4 and Tom, aged 2, is very important to him.

“The SAFO has given me back a healthy everyday life. I can run, play golf and walk my dog with the SAFO. I can also chase after my boys. Jack has got a new bike and I can run alongside him whilst he learns how to ride as long as I put on my SAFO!”

Neil’s story has also featured on Enable Magazine’s website, read the full story here.

To read similar clients stories click here.

For more information on our products and services call +44 (0) 1425 481740 or enquire here.